A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study

ENDIA Study Group; Kelly J McGorm; James D Brown; Rebecca L Thomson; Helena Oakey; Belinda Moore; Alexandra Hendry; Peter G Colman; Maria E Craig; Elizabeth A Davis; Mark Harris; Leonard C Harrison; Aveni Haynes; Georgia Soldatos; Peter Vuillermin; John M Wentworth; Jennifer J Couper; Megan A S Penno

doi:10.1177/19322968221079867

A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study

ENDIA Study Group, Kelly J McGorm, James D Brown, Rebecca L Thomson, Helena Oakey, Belinda Moore, Alexandra Hendry, Peter G Colman, Maria E Craig, Elizabeth A Davis, Mark Harris, Leonard C Harrison, Aveni Haynes, Georgia Soldatos, Peter Vuillermin, John M Wentworth, Jennifer J Couper, Megan A S Penno

Paediatrics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study is an Australia-wide pregnancy-birth cohort study following children who have a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes (ACTRN1261300794707). A dedicated ENDIA Facebook page was established in 2013 with the aim of enhancing recruitment and supporting participant retention through dissemination of study information. To measure the impact of Facebook, we evaluated the sources of referral to the study, cohort demographics, and withdrawal rates. We also investigated whether engagement with Facebook content was associated with specific post themes.

METHODS: Characteristics of Facebook versus conventional recruits were compared using linear, logistic, and multinomial logistic regression models. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk of study withdrawal. Data pertaining to 794 Facebook posts over 7.5 years were included in the analysis.

RESULTS: Facebook was the third largest source of referral (300/1511; 19.9%). Facebook recruits were more frequently Australian-born (P < .001) enrolling postnatally (P = .01) and withdrew from the study at a significantly lower rate compared with conventional recruits (4.7% vs 12.3%; P < .001) after a median of follow-up of 3.3 years. Facebook content featuring stories and images of participants received the highest engagement even though <20% of the 2337 Facebook followers were enrolled in the study.

CONCLUSIONS: Facebook was a valuable recruitment tool for ENDIA. Compared with conventional recruits, Facebook recruits were three times less likely to withdraw during long-term follow-up and had different sociodemographic characteristics. Facebook content featuring participants was the most engaging. These findings inform social media strategies for future cohort and type 1 diabetes studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN1261300794707.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	696-704
Number of pages	9
Journal	Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
Volume	17
Issue number	3
Early online date	22 Feb 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/19322968221079867
Publication status	Published - May 2023

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10.1177/19322968221079867

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10210110/

Centre of Research Excellence for the Protection of Pancreatic Beta Cells
Couper, J. (Investigator 01), Harrison, L. (Investigator 02), Craig, M. (Investigator 03), Morahan, G. (Investigator 04), Colman, P. (Investigator 05), Wentworth, J. (Investigator 06), Papenfuss, A. (Investigator 07) & Rawlinson, W. (Investigator 08)
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
1/12/14 → 30/11/19
Project: Research

Cite this

ENDIA Study Group, McGorm, K. J., Brown, J. D., Thomson, R. L., Oakey, H., Moore, B., Hendry, A., Colman, P. G., Craig, M. E., Davis, E. A., Harris, M., Harrison, L. C., Haynes, A., Soldatos, G., Vuillermin, P., Wentworth, J. M., Couper, J. J., & Penno, M. A. S. (2023). A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 17(3), 696-704. https://doi.org/10.1177/19322968221079867

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title = "A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: The Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study is an Australia-wide pregnancy-birth cohort study following children who have a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes (ACTRN1261300794707). A dedicated ENDIA Facebook page was established in 2013 with the aim of enhancing recruitment and supporting participant retention through dissemination of study information. To measure the impact of Facebook, we evaluated the sources of referral to the study, cohort demographics, and withdrawal rates. We also investigated whether engagement with Facebook content was associated with specific post themes.METHODS: Characteristics of Facebook versus conventional recruits were compared using linear, logistic, and multinomial logistic regression models. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk of study withdrawal. Data pertaining to 794 Facebook posts over 7.5 years were included in the analysis.RESULTS: Facebook was the third largest source of referral (300/1511; 19.9%). Facebook recruits were more frequently Australian-born (P < .001) enrolling postnatally (P = .01) and withdrew from the study at a significantly lower rate compared with conventional recruits (4.7% vs 12.3%; P < .001) after a median of follow-up of 3.3 years. Facebook content featuring stories and images of participants received the highest engagement even though <20% of the 2337 Facebook followers were enrolled in the study.CONCLUSIONS: Facebook was a valuable recruitment tool for ENDIA. Compared with conventional recruits, Facebook recruits were three times less likely to withdraw during long-term follow-up and had different sociodemographic characteristics. Facebook content featuring participants was the most engaging. These findings inform social media strategies for future cohort and type 1 diabetes studies.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN1261300794707.",

author = "{ENDIA Study Group} and McGorm, {Kelly J} and Brown, {James D} and Thomson, {Rebecca L} and Helena Oakey and Belinda Moore and Alexandra Hendry and Colman, {Peter G} and Craig, {Maria E} and Davis, {Elizabeth A} and Mark Harris and Harrison, {Leonard C} and Aveni Haynes and Georgia Soldatos and Peter Vuillermin and Wentworth, {John M} and Couper, {Jennifer J} and Penno, {Megan A S}",

year = "2023",

month = may,

doi = "10.1177/19322968221079867",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

pages = "696--704",

journal = "Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology",

issn = "1932-2968",

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ENDIA Study Group, McGorm, KJ, Brown, JD, Thomson, RL, Oakey, H, Moore, B, Hendry, A, Colman, PG, Craig, ME, Davis, EA, Harris, M, Harrison, LC, Haynes, A, Soldatos, G, Vuillermin, P, Wentworth, JM, Couper, JJ & Penno, MAS 2023, 'A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study', Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 696-704. https://doi.org/10.1177/19322968221079867

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study

AU - ENDIA Study Group

AU - McGorm, Kelly J

AU - Brown, James D

AU - Thomson, Rebecca L

AU - Oakey, Helena

AU - Moore, Belinda

AU - Hendry, Alexandra

AU - Colman, Peter G

AU - Craig, Maria E

AU - Davis, Elizabeth A

AU - Harris, Mark

AU - Harrison, Leonard C

AU - Haynes, Aveni

AU - Soldatos, Georgia

AU - Vuillermin, Peter

AU - Wentworth, John M

AU - Couper, Jennifer J

AU - Penno, Megan A S

PY - 2023/5

Y1 - 2023/5

N2 - BACKGROUND: The Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study is an Australia-wide pregnancy-birth cohort study following children who have a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes (ACTRN1261300794707). A dedicated ENDIA Facebook page was established in 2013 with the aim of enhancing recruitment and supporting participant retention through dissemination of study information. To measure the impact of Facebook, we evaluated the sources of referral to the study, cohort demographics, and withdrawal rates. We also investigated whether engagement with Facebook content was associated with specific post themes.METHODS: Characteristics of Facebook versus conventional recruits were compared using linear, logistic, and multinomial logistic regression models. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk of study withdrawal. Data pertaining to 794 Facebook posts over 7.5 years were included in the analysis.RESULTS: Facebook was the third largest source of referral (300/1511; 19.9%). Facebook recruits were more frequently Australian-born (P < .001) enrolling postnatally (P = .01) and withdrew from the study at a significantly lower rate compared with conventional recruits (4.7% vs 12.3%; P < .001) after a median of follow-up of 3.3 years. Facebook content featuring stories and images of participants received the highest engagement even though <20% of the 2337 Facebook followers were enrolled in the study.CONCLUSIONS: Facebook was a valuable recruitment tool for ENDIA. Compared with conventional recruits, Facebook recruits were three times less likely to withdraw during long-term follow-up and had different sociodemographic characteristics. Facebook content featuring participants was the most engaging. These findings inform social media strategies for future cohort and type 1 diabetes studies.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN1261300794707.

AB - BACKGROUND: The Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study is an Australia-wide pregnancy-birth cohort study following children who have a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes (ACTRN1261300794707). A dedicated ENDIA Facebook page was established in 2013 with the aim of enhancing recruitment and supporting participant retention through dissemination of study information. To measure the impact of Facebook, we evaluated the sources of referral to the study, cohort demographics, and withdrawal rates. We also investigated whether engagement with Facebook content was associated with specific post themes.METHODS: Characteristics of Facebook versus conventional recruits were compared using linear, logistic, and multinomial logistic regression models. Logistic regression was used to determine the risk of study withdrawal. Data pertaining to 794 Facebook posts over 7.5 years were included in the analysis.RESULTS: Facebook was the third largest source of referral (300/1511; 19.9%). Facebook recruits were more frequently Australian-born (P < .001) enrolling postnatally (P = .01) and withdrew from the study at a significantly lower rate compared with conventional recruits (4.7% vs 12.3%; P < .001) after a median of follow-up of 3.3 years. Facebook content featuring stories and images of participants received the highest engagement even though <20% of the 2337 Facebook followers were enrolled in the study.CONCLUSIONS: Facebook was a valuable recruitment tool for ENDIA. Compared with conventional recruits, Facebook recruits were three times less likely to withdraw during long-term follow-up and had different sociodemographic characteristics. Facebook content featuring participants was the most engaging. These findings inform social media strategies for future cohort and type 1 diabetes studies.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN1261300794707.

U2 - 10.1177/19322968221079867

DO - 10.1177/19322968221079867

M3 - Article

C2 - 35193430

SN - 1932-2968

VL - 17

SP - 696

EP - 704

JO - Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology

JF - Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology

IS - 3

ER -

A Long-Term Evaluation of Facebook for Recruitment and Retention in the ENDIA Type 1 Diabetes Pregnancy-Birth Cohort Study

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Centre of Research Excellence for the Protection of Pancreatic Beta Cells

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